Two Bearkat bowlers qualify for singles championships
3/9/2025 2:23:00 PM | Women's Bowling
ARLINGTON — For the first time in program history, Sam Houston has two bowlers who qualified as finalist for the 2025 Intercollegiate Singles Championships following four sectional qualifying events around the country this past weekend at Cityview Lanes.
Denise Blankenzee placed first at the Fort Worth Regional with 1,377 total pins and Noey Sarntong was second with 1,349 out of a field of more than 180 rollers. They join former Bearkat Carrie Hopkinson as a qualifier, but she was not able to compete for the Intercollegiate Singles National Championship due to an injury.
"We don't have the opportunity usually to do singles because were out of dates typically each year," head coach Brad Hagen said. "It's exciting to go into an event at the same center we won at last week, but the scoring pace was brutal. We had a great game plan based on the history of the event, and I was confident we'd get someone out of the sectional qualifier. It was icing on the cake when Denise and Noey took the top two spots to punch their ticket to the Intercollegiate Singles National Championship that will be held the following week after the NCAA Championships."
The national singles competition will feature 24 female and 24 male student-athletes vying for the title in their respective divisions April 14-19 at South Point Bowling Plaza in Las Vegas.
Friday's sectional qualifiers were also contested at Stardust Bowl in Addison, Illinois; Thunderbowl Lanes in Allen Park, Michigan; and Smyrna Bowling Center in Smyrna, Tennessee.
Competitors at each location bowled six games with the top four women and top four men at each qualifier earning an automatic spot at the ISC. The remaining spots were determined based on field size at each location.
"It's amazing to me sometimes with all the success we've had over the years that we still find ourselves writing new chapters for this program and raising the bar anytime we get the opportunity," Hagen added. "We have a great chance to win a Singles National Championship in April, and that's pretty exciting. Overall, the six ladies competed well today and communicated throughout the event which was huge. We had three in the top 15 and five of the six in the top 50 which is a good day in the office any day of the week with a field of a 180 plus. We're looking forward to carrying over this momentum into our last regular season event, and it's a great time of the year to keep ascending as cohesive unit."
On the women's side, a total of seven student-athletes advanced from Addison, six from Allen Park and five each from Fort Worth and Smyrna. The men's division advanced eight from Addison, six from Fort Worth and five each from Allen Park and Smyrna.
Denise Blankenzee placed first at the Fort Worth Regional with 1,377 total pins and Noey Sarntong was second with 1,349 out of a field of more than 180 rollers. They join former Bearkat Carrie Hopkinson as a qualifier, but she was not able to compete for the Intercollegiate Singles National Championship due to an injury.
"We don't have the opportunity usually to do singles because were out of dates typically each year," head coach Brad Hagen said. "It's exciting to go into an event at the same center we won at last week, but the scoring pace was brutal. We had a great game plan based on the history of the event, and I was confident we'd get someone out of the sectional qualifier. It was icing on the cake when Denise and Noey took the top two spots to punch their ticket to the Intercollegiate Singles National Championship that will be held the following week after the NCAA Championships."
The national singles competition will feature 24 female and 24 male student-athletes vying for the title in their respective divisions April 14-19 at South Point Bowling Plaza in Las Vegas.
Friday's sectional qualifiers were also contested at Stardust Bowl in Addison, Illinois; Thunderbowl Lanes in Allen Park, Michigan; and Smyrna Bowling Center in Smyrna, Tennessee.
Competitors at each location bowled six games with the top four women and top four men at each qualifier earning an automatic spot at the ISC. The remaining spots were determined based on field size at each location.
"It's amazing to me sometimes with all the success we've had over the years that we still find ourselves writing new chapters for this program and raising the bar anytime we get the opportunity," Hagen added. "We have a great chance to win a Singles National Championship in April, and that's pretty exciting. Overall, the six ladies competed well today and communicated throughout the event which was huge. We had three in the top 15 and five of the six in the top 50 which is a good day in the office any day of the week with a field of a 180 plus. We're looking forward to carrying over this momentum into our last regular season event, and it's a great time of the year to keep ascending as cohesive unit."
On the women's side, a total of seven student-athletes advanced from Addison, six from Allen Park and five each from Fort Worth and Smyrna. The men's division advanced eight from Addison, six from Fort Worth and five each from Allen Park and Smyrna.
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Bowling
/ Women's Bowling
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